FLOW CYTOMETRIC PATTERN IN DIAGNOSIS OF CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA, KING HUSSEIN MEDICAL CENTER EXPERIENCE

Rame Khasawneh, MD, FABMGG, Hala Alsokhni, MD, Bayan Alzghoul, MD, Nabeeha Abbasi, MD, Asim Momani MD*, Nazmi Kamal, MD, FCAP

ABSTRACT

Background: Flow cytometry has an essential role in diagnosing chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and distinguishing it from other lymphoproliferative diseases (LPD) according to expression of certain markers called cluster of differentiation (CD). Aim: Investigating the pattern of expression of different CD markers in CLL patients at Princess Iman Center for Research and Laboratory Sciences over the period of 1/2011 to 5/2015. Patients and method: 214 patients with peripheral blood (PB) lymphocytosis (lymphocytes count > 5x109) diagnosed as CLL by flow cytometry on PB samples using specific panel including the following markers: CD5, CD19, CD23, CD79b, CD25, CD10, FMC7, sIgM. The age range 37-84 years. The Male to Female ratio is 1.8:1. Results: The expression of the CD markers in CLL patients was as follow: CD5 expressed in 212 patients (99%), CD19 expressed in 214 patients (100%), CD23 expressed in 199 patients (93%), CD79b expressed in 101 patients (47%), CD25 expressed in 97 patients (45%), FMC7 expressed in 17 patients (8%), sIgM expressed in 48 patients (22%), and CD10 was negative in all patients (0%). Conclusion: Flow cytometry is a golden tool for diagnosing CLL. Standardization of the procedure is essential and adding new described monoclonal antibodies related to prognosis and treatment options are recommended.

Keywords: flow cytometry, CLL, CLL panel, LPD, monoclonal antibodies.